If Your Health Isn’t a Priority, What is?

Each year over 600,000 people die of heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women. (cdc.gov)

Many people go through extreme measures to keep their homes safe from burglary and themselves safe in cars but do absolutely nothing to keep their bodies safe from preventable chronic illnesses. It is time we get serious about this!

Saying, “I don’t have time,” is actually saying, “It’s not a priority.” If your health isn’t a priority, what is? Take a second to reflect on what you do make time for. Are you texting during times that you could be exercising? Are you talking on the phone when you could be jogging? Are you watching television when you could be watching television and working out at the same time? Is it possible that you have decided that the new gossip on Grey’s is more important than getting control of your health?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is called the silent killer because about 1/3 of the people with it, do not know they have it. Some people completely avoid the doctor or that blood pressure monitor in Walgreens, because they are afraid to know the truth. Are you one of them? Just because you don’t know, doesn’t mean it won’t kill you. Hypertension is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Although it is silent, it is easy to detect by having your blood pressure checked. It is also one of the very few risk factors of heart disease and stroke that is treatable.

So how do you treat hypertension? First, have your blood pressure checked at least once a year by a doctor. The rest is quite simple. Start eating a healthy diet, stop smoking, exercise often, and reduce your salt intake.

So why don’t you have time for your health? Think about all the family and friends who love you and don’t want to lose you to such a preventable illness. Do it for yourself and for them. Start right now. Not tomorrow, not in an hour, RIGHT NOW!